Feed water heater



y 1931- s. o. A. FIEDLER 1,804,214

FEED WATER HEATER {Filed July 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l a Atto ng y s. o. A. FIEDLER 1,804,214

FEED WATER HEATER Filed July 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II IIIIIl/IIIIII IA SbasrLen 0H0 l-U-g Le ner INVENT W KM Atg r'n V materially Patented May 5, 1231 Leena snnasrrsn orro ALFRED FIEDLEB, er PAR-IS, Faeries, nssrernon TO rreuxrtra nn nns CHEMINS DE e LINDUSTREE, or res-rs, FRANCE FEED WATER HEATER Application filed July 27, 1928,-Seria1 No. 295,724, and iii-France June 12, 1928.

The present invention relates to feed water heaters for boilers, and chiefly to feed water heaters, for locomotive boilers, wherein feed water is mixed with heating steam, and it has 5 for its object to provide a feed water heater of this type by which the water will be beat ed to a temperature exceeding 100 G, that is, a feed water heater operating underpressure, whileafiording the discharge of all excess of heated water without any loss of steam.

The invention relates more particularly to feed water heaters comprising a mixing chamber which is supplied with water to be heated and with heating steam under a certain pressur and a distribution chamber, thes-e two chambers being connected togetln er by a water oint.

it has been found that the heating may increased it the water seal is designed that the mixingchamber will al be practically emptiee of water.

these conditions, however, heating steam 13 able to :r ceed into the distribution chame whence it may escape to the atmosp ere.

n to the invention, the mixing cn mber and the distribution chamber are ially closed and adapted to con- 5 steam under pressure, and the n or the distribution chamber which contains the excess of hot water is provided iii any suitable device for discharging the s or" hot water without any loss of steam.

on the difference of densities between water steam, and comprising, for example, obturating member disposed in the water discharge tube and adapted to be subjected, 21 one face, to a pressure which only depen the steam pressure which prevails hinstant in the distribution chamber n the opposite face, to a pressure which ends both upon the steam pressure pr v g in saidchamber and upon the head at water contained in said tube, whereby said cbturatg member will cl se automatically as soon as the level of the water falls below a determined limit.

urther characteristics of the invention will be specified in the following description, ith reference to the appended drawings, which are given only by way of example.

Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatical sectional views of two embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a detail view, in section, of a clack valve.

Fig. 4 shows a modification wherein the valve is constituted by adeformable wall or diaphragm.

The feed water heat-ershown in Fig. 1 is of the known type where the water to be heated is mixed with the heating steam, as described for. example in my prior U. .S. patent application No. 275,091 filed May .4, 1928. The said heater comprises two main receptacles and 21, receptacle 20 serving as a mixingchamber, and-receptacle 21 as a distribution chamber. Heating steam from conduit 80 is admitted through an oil separator 7 and a nozzle 22 intoinixing chamber 20. Chamber 20 mayalso be. supplied at Set and35 with exhaust steam from auxiliary 7 machines, suchas the air compressor, water pump, or the l ke. The two chambers are connected together by a bent pipe 25 whose lower end opens into arecess or pocket 19 formed in the bottom of chamber 20.

Hot water is withdrawn from chamber 21 by a pump 27 adapted to force said water througha pipe 28 into the boiler (not shown) and the excess of hotwater in chamber .21 overflows into an overflow compartment29. The two chambers 20. and 21 are, provided at the top with respective gasv discharge .orifices 32, 33 of small size, whereby the gases disengaged from the water by the heating and circulationare discharged without any appreciable loss of heating steam.

The overflow compartment 29 is connected by a U shaped tube 2, 6, to be further described with a tank 30 open to the atmos-- phere at 13 and which may form part of chamber 21 or may consist of a separate receptacle. Said tank 30 is connected by a discharge pipe 9 with suction vessel 90.

It will be noted that the feed water heater is substantially closed or fluidtight, with the exception of the orifices 32 and 33, through which the loss of steam is negligible. In

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these conditions, when the plant is in operation, and as water is heated in chamber 20 by admixture with steam, and collects at the bottom of said chamber and in recess 19, said water will rise in pipe 25 due to the steam pressure and will flow into chamber 21, the pipe 25 forming a water oint between said chambers. The water is withdrawn from the distribution chamber by the hot water pump, and the excess overflows into compartment 29.

As the pressure of the heating steam is comparatively high, means are to be provided for discharging said excess of water into tank 30, open to the atmosphere, without any loss of steam. To this end, use will be made of a balanced valve, as shown in Fig. 1.

In this embodiment of the invention, the liquid discharge tube 2 which opens into the bottom of chamber 21, is provided at its lower part with a small cylinder in which is slidably mounted a listen 5 of suitable weight and toruiiing an obturating member. On the side of said cylinder opens pipe 6 adapted to connect said cylinder with receptacle 30. At the upper part of cylinder 4- opens a tube 3 connected to chamber 21 at a point situated above the uppermost level which may be reached by the water in said chamber.

In these conditions, it will be seen that the opposite faces of piston 5 are sub'ected to opposite pressures respectively equal to the steam pressure in chamber 1 and to said latter pressure increased by the weight of the water column contained in tube 2. Under the action of the weight of said water column, the piston is raised in the cylinder and sets up the communication between tubes 2 and 6. The water contained at the lower part of compartment 29 is forced or blown oil by the steam pressure through tubes 2 and 6 into receptacle 30, whence said liquid is discharged through pipe 9 into suction vessel 90. hen the whole excess of water is discharged, its level is considerably lowered in tube 2, whereby the pressure acting.

on the lower face or" piston 5 is much reduced. Hence, piston 5 moves down and cuts oil the communication between tubes 2 and 6, whereby the steam filling chamber 21 is prevented from escaping out of said chamher.

If water still or again flows into compartment 29, the water level rises in tube 2 and in said chamber, whereby piston 5 is again raised and water again discharged, and so on.

Obviously, the diameter of the branch 2 of the U tube may be larger than the diameter of the branch 3, so as to assure a rapid discharge of the water, and the size and weight of the piston are determined in consequence.

The use of the balanced valve shown in s will be now pointed out.

The exhaust steam from the various machines used for the heating of the water will cause violent pulsations in chamber 20. At each pulsation, the. heated water which collects in the bottom of said chamber is ex pelied throi h pine 25 into chamber 21, so that the water seal formed by the water contained in this pipe is blown oil. Steam thus enters chamber 21 and forces the excess of water through pipe 2, while its pressure assures the filling of the hot water pump cylinders with hot water through tube 26. Howo 1, said steam is prevented from escaping to the atmosphere by piston 5 which closes the branch 2 when the excess of hot water has been discharged.

it will be understood that I may thus discharge to the atmosphere the whole amount of wa er which is not taken up by the hot water pump, irrespectively of the pressure of the heating steam, even it the heating steam is live steam the boiler pressure, without any detrimental loss of steam.

in the other hand, the water seal formed by the pipe 25 will be blown off at each pulsation of the steam, and witnout any loss of steam, so that chamber 20 will never contain any appreciable amount of water. The whole capacity of chamber 20 is thus tree, and may be utilized for the intimate mixing of the cold water ind the steam under pressure, and this circumstance is most favourable for the obtainment of the maximum heating; this increase in the heating ethciency has been found in repeated experiments. Further, the resulting temperature remains constant, since it is no longer atl'ected by variations in the amount of water contained in chamber 20, and hence in the volume of said chamber.

It should be observed that the diameter of the branch 2 of the U shaped tube shown in 1 may be selected in such mani to provide for the discharge of a large excess oil water; in this manner, the operation of the device (injector or pump) for the supply of cold water into the heater may be completely independent of the operation of the hot water pump, on the sole condition that the heater shall be supplied with an amount of cold water at least equal to the maximum output of the hot water pump, so that the latter wi l. not fail.

in particular, the cold water pump may be readily replaced by an injector operated by the exhaust steam from the engine, or from an auxiliary engine.

2 shows a feed water heater which similar to the preceding, but comprises only a single body or unit 40, and the water seal between the mixing chamber l3 and exactly similar to members 6, 4, 2, 3, 5 respectively. The heater operates in quite the same manner as the one shown in Fig. 1 and possesses the same advantages.

Piston 5 or the like may be replaced by any other suitable obturating member, and for example by a diaphragm 60, as shown in Fig. 4:. Said diaphragm is contained in a chamber 61 and divides the latter into two separate compartments, one of which is connected to tube 2, 01'72 and the other to tube 8, or 78. Infront of the orifice of tube 6, said diaphragm carries a needle valve 62 or the like, whose displacementsare controlled by the deformation of the diaphragm under the elfeet of the variations in the differential pressure acting on its faces. Obviously, said diaphragm may be replaced by any other suitable deformable wall, aneroid capsule,

etc. a

order to obviate the slight trouble in the adjustment of the piston or diaphragm, which might be caused by the accumulation of condensation liquid above piston 5 ig. 1) or at one side of diaphragm 60 (Fig. 4), provision may be made of any suitable means for discharging or draining said condensation liquid, automatically or not.

in i, it is assumed that said means are simply constituted by an oriice 63, adapted to afford communication between cynnde'r i and the atmosphere. The water collecting in compartment 29 in a continuous manner, piston 5 will normally occupy an elevated position affording communication between tubes 2 and 6. In this position, piston 5 will cover or obturate the dischz e e 63, thus obviating any loss of steam. ny reason, the level of the water falls 'ncnientally in compartment 29, on 5 will be lo. ered and will uncover oiifice whereby the. condensation water will be allowed to escape. It being supposed that the periods during which the lever of the water has a tendency to fall in compartment 29 are relatively short, and that orilice 68 has s: all r, the loss ofsteam through ibe negligible.

will be noted that, even if the liq el in compartment 29 would not fall to a 1 ong l su ntly lowzlevel duringa relatively l peri e, the weight of condensation liqui above piston 5 will, after some time, become suificient cause the downward movement of said piston, thus uncovering orifice not this instant, the condensation liquid will be blown off through 5 id orifice and piston. 5, immediately relieved from the weight of sale condensation water, willautomatically resume its normal position.

Obviously, the device for the automatic discharge of the condensation water above described, may be replaced by any other equivalent means. In Fig. 4, it is supposed thatsaid discharge meansare simply constituted by a cock 6% adapted to be actuated by hand, directly or through the medium of any suitable transmis ion means.

As shown in Fig. 8, piston 74 is preferably hollow, and may thus contain a'variable charge of lead or the like, by which its weight may be adjusted at will.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the examples of construction herein described and represented. In Fig. 1, the tank 30 nay be entirely distinct from the body 21 of the heater, and may be placed in any desired position relatively to the heater. The U shaped tube may have a more or less open shape, and its branches may have all des'. dimensions and shapes. In the different constructions represented, the branch 3 or the like of the U shaped tube maybe replaced by asteam pipe opening on the lower face of the piston, the pressure corresponding to the weight of the water contained in said branch being replaced by the pressure of a suitable spring having the proper force and acting upon the said face ofthepiston. Also, as heating steam, use may be made ofex-haust steam from the engine instead of steam from the receiver of a compound machine.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A feed water heater for boilers comprising a substantially closed mixing chamber adapted to be supplied with heating steam, means for supplying said mixing chamberwith feed water to be heated, a substantially closed-distribution chamber, a hydraulic joint between said chambers, the weight of the water column forming said joint being adapted to be overcome by the pressure of the heating steam, whereby water and steam are caused to flow from said mixing chamber into said distribution chamber, said mixing chambercontaining substantial- 1y nowater, means for delivering hot water from saiddistribution chamberto the boiler 1 feeding means, and steam trap means for discharging any excess of water from'said dis ribution chamberand preventing the escape of steam therefrom.

2. A feed water heater for boilers comprising asubstantially closed mixing chamber adapted to be supplied with heating steam, feeding means for supplying said mixing chamber with feed water to be heated, a sub stantially closed distribution chamber, a hydraulic. joint between said chambers, the weight of the water column forming said joint being adapted to be overcome by the pressure of the heating steam, whereby water and steam are caused to flow from said mixing chamber into said distribution chamber, said mixing chamber containing substantially no water, means for delivering hot water from said distribution chamber to the boilerfeeding means, an overflow receptacle open to the atmosphere, steam trap means for connecting said distribution chamber with said receptacle and adapted to ai'iord the discharge into the latter of any excess of hot water and to prevent the escape of steam, and means for returning to said feeding means the water contained in said receptacle.

3. A feed water heater for boilers comprising a substantially closed mixing chamber adapted to be supplied with heating steam, means for supplying said mixing chamber with feed water to be heated, a substantially closed distribution chamber, a hydraulic joint between said chambers, the weight of the water column forming said joint being adapt ed to be overcome by the pressure of the heating steam, whereby water and steam are caused to flow from said mixing chamber into said distribution chamber, said mixing chamber containing substantially no water, a storage compartment in said distributing chamber adapted to receive the water from said mixing chamber, hot water discharge means in said storage compartment, an overflow compartment in said distributing chamber adapted to receive the overflow from said storage compartment, and steam trap means for discharging any excess of water from said overflow compartment while preventing the escape of steam from said distribution chamher.

i. In combination with a feed water heater adapted to be supplied with steam under pressure, discharge means connected with a compartment of said heater for discharging any excess of hot water from said heater and means for controlling the discharge of water through said discharge means, said control means being subjected to the differential action of columns of water and steam whose respective heights depend on the water level in said heater and in said discharge means, whereby said control means are adapted to afford the discharge of water under the pressure of the steam when the water level is above a given level and to cut off said discharge means when the water level is below said given level.

5. In combination with a feed water heater adapted to be supplied with steam under pres sure, a tube connected with a compartment of said heater for discharging the excess of hot water from said heater, a pressure influenced member in said tube for controlling the discharge of hot water through said tube, one face of said member being subjected to the pressure in said heater increased by the weight of hot water in said tube, and means whereby the other face of said member is subjected to a pressure which is practically dependent on the pressure in said heater only.

6. In combination with a feed water heater adapted to be supplied with steam under pressure, a U-shaped tube, connected with a compartment of said heater for discharging any excess of hot water from said heater, one branch of said tube opening into said heater and the other branch opening into said heater at such a level as to be constantly filled with one 01"? the iiuids contained in said heater, a pressure influenced member in said tube and whose faces are subjected to the pressures prevailing in said branches respectively, a ischarge outlet in said first mentioned branch, adjacent said member, and means, as sociated with said member for controlling the rater discharge through said outlet.

7. In combination with a feed water heater adapted to be supplied with steam under pressure, a U-shaped tube, connected with a compartment of said heater for discharging any excess of hot water from said heater, one branch or said tube opening into said heater and the other opening into said heater at such a level as to l e constantly filled with one of the fluids contained in said heater, a piston fitting in said tube in a substantially fluidtight manner and whose faces are subjected to the pressures prevailing in said branches, repectivcly, and a discharge outlet in said iirst mentioned branch, adjacent said piston, whereby said discharge outlet is masked or u ncorered by said piston according to the difference of pressure acting upon the "faces thereof.

A feed water heater comprising a sub siantially closed mixing chamber adapted to be supplied with heating steam, means for supplying said mixing chamber with feed water to be heated, a substantially closed distribution chamber, a hydraulic joint between said chambers, the weight off the water column forming said oint being adapted to be overcome by the pressure of the heating steam, whereby water and steam are caused to flow from said mixing chamber into said distributing chamber, said mixing chamber containing substantially no water, means for delivering hot water from said distribution chamber to the boiler feeding means, and means for discharging any excess of water from said distribution chamber and preventing the escape of steam, comprising a tube connected with said distribution chamber, a pressure influenced member in said tube for controlling the discharge of hot water through said tube, one face of said member being subjected to the pressure in said heater increased by the weight of hot water in said tube, and means whereby the other face of said member is subjected to a pressure which is practically dependent on the pressure in said heater only.

9. A feed water heater comprising a substantially closed mixing chamber adapted to be supplied with heating steam, means for supplying said mixing chamber with feed water to be heated, a substantially closed distribution chamber, a hydraulic joint between said chambers, the weight of the water column forming said joint being adapted to be overcome by the pressure of the heating steam, whereby water and steam are caused to flow from said mixing chamber into said distribution chamber, said mixing chamber containing substantially no water, a storage compartment in said distributing chamber adapted to receive the water from said mixing chamber, hot water discharge means in said storage compartment, an overflow compartment in said distributing chamber adapted to receive the overflow from said storage compartment, and means for discharging said overflow from said overflow compartment and preventing the escape of steam, comprising a tube opening at the bottom of said overflow compartment, means for controlling the discharge of water through said tube, a pressure influenced member in said tube and movable with said controlling means, one face of said member being subjected to the pressure in said heater increased by the weight of hot water in said tube, and means whereby the other face of said member is subjected to a pressure which is practically dependent on the pressure in said heater only.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SEBASTIEN OTTO ALFRED FIEDLER. 

